Mexico Rallies For 4-2 Win Over USA
Team Mexico rallied for four unanswered goals, including a fourth-quarter brace from midfielder Luis “Tortín” Perez, as they posted a 4-2 victory over Team USA in the 2026 Continental Cup at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, an international friendly that served as the unofficial kickoff to the 2026-27 Major Arena Soccer League preseason. Luiz Morales scored both goals for Team USA.
Mexico rallied from a late third-quarter 2-0 deficit to post the victory, started by Rodolfo Valenzuela’s mini-bicycle kick goal at 13:26 of the third quarter. Roman Ramirez was sent in for the equalizing goal at 7:40 of the fourth quarter thanks to the second consecutive assist from Sockers midfielder Charlie Gonzalez. Perez then netted the match-winner from right wing, pausing before unleashing a strike that banged off the bottom of the crossbar before bouncing down across the goal line for the go-ahead goal at 10:17. Perez finished his brace with an empty-netter with 12.7 seconds remaining.
A crowd of 4,307 indoor soccer fans came up to Oceanside to witness many of the league’s best players go head-to-head in an international friendly with all the inherent spirit of any USA/Mexico clash. The first half witnessed a goalkeeping display par excellence, as veteran San Diego Sockers keeper Boris Pardo was credited with 12-of-12 saves. A scoreless first quarter was only so because of Pardo’s six saves, collaborating with the USA defenders to keep the scoreboard clean.
The second quarter saw Mexico whistled for a defensive clearance just under two minutes into the frame, as a defender’s attempt to block out a centering pass went over the low wall out of play. Given a top-of-the-arc free kick, the US positioned Nick Perera on the left wing and Luiz Morales on the right. Perera stepped up to the ball but then stepped over it, allowing Morales to stride in and shoot. Morales laced a rocket shot into the center of the upper goal netting at 1:56, putting Team USA on the board 1-0.
Pardo did his part to keep the score where it was, including a three-save sequence which featured his recovery skills. Mexico hit a crossbar and post along the way, and the match held to a 1-0 score at the half. Team USA doubled their edge when Morales scored a seemingly impossible goal, as he spun around in the left corner of the attacking zone before firing the equivalent of a basketball turnaround jumper. His spinning shot nicked off the right post from a severe angle before bouncing back to the opposite left-side netting.
Frontwave Arena serves as the host arena of the MASL champion San Diego Sockers, who will seek back-to-back championships in the 2026-27 MASL season. Tickets for the upcoming season are available at frontwavearena.com.
SCORING SUMMARY
2nd / 1:56 - Morales (UA) USA 1-0
3rd / 1:25 - Morales (UA) USA 2-0
3rd / 13:26 - Valenzuela (Gonzalez C) USA 2-1
4th / 7:40 - Ramirez (Gonzalez C) TIE 2-2
4th / 10:17 - Perez (UA) MEX 3-2
4th / 14:48 - Perez (UA) MEX 4-2
PENALTY SUMMARY
-None-
STATS USA/MEX
Shots: 17 / 32
Fouls: 13 / 9
Blocks: 9 / 4
Saves: 19 / 11
Attendance: 4,307